Wednesday Roundup: Dystopian TV Goodness

It's official: I'm in reading mode. I haven't played many games because I've been too busy getting into some new books and TV shows.

TV

Continuum: I discovered this show thanks to a tip from a friend of mine. It's a Canadian show set in Vancouver, and it alternates between 2077, where Kiera Cameron, the lead character, is working as a police officer in pursuit of a terrorist group named Liber8, and 2012, where she and the terrorists end up when their execution goes awry. The first season was only 10 episodes, and I just finished watching it. I liked how the plot thickened with each episode, how the scope of what happened became wider and more interesting, and how morally complicated the episodes sometimes are. It can be really difficult to find a good sci-fi show on TV, but this one is particularly well done. Plus, fans of the X-Files will appreciate that the actors who played The Smoking Man and Krycek both appear in the series. My favorite part: Kellog, because it's so hard to figure out exactly what his agenda is.
     
Bones: We've finally caught up and are now watching the current season. It's been a rough go for Angela and Hodgins, but I'm a little leery of where the show's going with Pelant. He's becoming borderline superhuman, and that worries me. Up until now, I thought he was the scariest villain the show's had yet, but I'm afraid he might end up on the cartoonish end of the scale. I fully expect to see him again before the end of the season. Sweets is really disappointing me this season--for a psychologist, he's spectacularly bad at diagnosing his own destructive behavior, but maybe that's the point. Still, Sweets, you're letting me down. The subplot about Booth in the Derby episode was touching. I love how Booth and Brennan both alternately frustrate me and make me love them.
     
Person of Interest: We're a few episodes behind here. Reese is treading in dangerous waters, and I'm amazed by how Carter's character is changing, but in a good way. I've always liked her character, so I'm digging the somewhat vigilante edge she's developing. I'm still worried about Fusco and hoping his problems are going to work out okay. What I do like about Reese being locked up, though, is it gives us more of a chance to see Harold in action, which I really like. I thought his connecting with the young computer genius was moving. Actor crossover alert: Why, it's Finn without his Southern accent and his courtship of Cam's daughter!

How are the mid season shows? Any good ones I ought to look into? We've still got Battlestar Gallactica to finish up, as well as 30 Rock, and I've got my eye on Downton Abbey, but I'd still love the lowdown on any new shows worth seeing.

Books

This was one of those books that had been sitting on my Goodreads "to read" list for quite some time, so I snapped it up when Amazon offered it as a Daily Deal. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you don't know this about me yet, I majored in French and used to be a French teacher, so it probably goes without saying I love anything and everything that references France. I loved how Perkins describes Paris, and I was busy making a mental list of all the places I need to try to visit when I go to Paris this summer. And Anna's right on when she talks about how sublime macarons are. They are more than just a food, they are an experience. Anyway, I loved the characters and thought the love story was fantastic. It evolved naturally and I could understand why the characters loved one another. The book was also laugh-out-loud funny in some parts, yet it was also reflective and touching. Plus, I rooted for Anna all the way, even when she was kind of being a jerk. This was a really enjoyable read.           

The concept of this book sounded intriguing, but I was left feeling rather ambivalent about it. There were some elements that disturbed me, such as Faith's date with Wade. At first, I thought the book painted what happened as okay, and I was having trouble continuing with it. I was relieved by what ultimately happened, but I still thought there were some alarming edges to the romances. In general, I don't think the relationships portrayed were healthy ones. I also didn't really understand what motivated Clara, who seems a bit one-dimensional. There's some good action in the book, but it takes a while to build up. Still, the world wasn't fully realized and some things about it just didn't make sense to me.

    

Warning, there will be a few minor spoilers if you haven't read Dollhouse. For a little while, I was more interested in what was happening with Jessamine. I enjoyed her back story and liked that it added new facets to her character. I disliked her so much that I was happy that Allyn made me feel sympathetic for her in the end. One of my favorite tricks is when an author can provide a different perspective on a seemingly irredeemable character and make me look at that character in a new light. The action surrounding Cassie ramped up a lot at the end of the book, and some interesting new elements were added to the story, along with a twist that took me by surprise. I'm looking forward to the next book.

That's it for me this week. I'm thinking about going to see Silver Linings Playbook this weekend and, if I do, I'll share my thoughts about that next week. I've also got my eye on a documentary that's been on my list for a while, so I'll try to watch that as well. And, of course, I'm reading books, books, and more books! At this rate, I'm going to blow my goal for the year out of the water. MOAR BOOKS!

Wednesday Roundup: Gotta love books that mess with your head

My hiatus from video games continues, which means I've been doing a lot of reading. So, without further ado, here is what I've been devouring over the last couple of weeks:

Books

I'd heard a lot about this book and had it on my to-read list for a while, so I was happy when it became the selection for my book club as it finally propelled the book to the front of my list. My mind was absolutely blown by it.

I love books with unreliable narrators, so Gone Girl drew me in right from the first pages. I didn't trust Nick and was openly suspicious of a lot of what he did, but there was something about Amy's disappearance that just didn't sit right with me, so the last half of the book made me gasp out loud.

Since I only heard some vague things about the book based on the buzz, I had no idea about the plot twists, and it's something I wouldn't want to spoil for anyone else. Instead, I'll just stop at saying this book ended in a way that was so unexpected and so messed up that I kind of stared in disbelief at the last words. If you like psychological suspense, this is the book for you.

I try to spend quality time on my elliptical at least five days a week, and I read while I'm going to town on it. My elliptical is in my basement, and this is an important detail because of the setting of this book. My basement is finished, so that helps cut down on the creep factor of it but, if you're like me and have ever lived in a house with an unfinished basement, you know how creepy they can be. Don't read this book in your basement.

This is a work of YA Gothic horror that revolves around a group of teenagers and one young girl who are trapped in the "Dollhouse", a creepy underground prison. The setting of the book is so ominous. It dragged me right down into it. Allyn sets her scenes so vividly I could see them in my head.

While I like the characters in this book--particularly Sophronia, who intrigued me--I was more drawn into the plot and the setting. Though there is a definite ending to this book, it still leaves some big questions unanswered, setting up the sequel perfectly. I'm sure it comes as no surprise when I say I'm now trucking away on the elliptical in my basement while creeping myself out with Paper Dolls, the second book in the series.

I've come to realize that I'm more a fan of sci-fi than I thought. While I love Star Wars, Star Trek the Next Generation, and games like Mass Effect, I don't typically like to read space operas. Instead, I tend more toward dystopic fiction, post-apocalyptic fiction, or sci-fi that explores things like alternate universes or advanced technology. I found False Memory so satisfying because it contains a lot of the high tech, plot-driven themes that I love.

From start to finish, this book is pretty much non-stop action. Centering on a group of teenagers who seem to have been raised to become some sort of weapon, the story is still very human. There are a lot of action scenes, but they all felt feasible to me and none of the characters has that annoying habit of seeming so uber that they can't be touched. In fact, at times I was surprised by how difficult the characters had it--and that was a good thing.

The other big plus of this book for me was Miranda, the lead character. I love YA fiction that features strong, pro-active female characters, and that was Miranda to a T. She's capable but still vulnerable, and I really felt for her as she struggled to make sense of who she was and what was happening to her. I'm really looking forward to the next installment in the series. 

Television

My hubby and I are still working our way through Bones on Netflix, and last night we watched the season six finale.

I give Bones huge props for handling characters downfalls in a way that is heartbreaking and compelling. The second to last episode of season six made me cry in a way I haven't cried since the subplot surrounding Zach. The characters on Bones are really quirky and sometimes downright annoying, but the writers do such a great job of making them human beings with whom the viewer can relate, that it's hard not to be affected by some of the great tragic events that happen in the series.

However, I wasn't all that thrilled about the season finale cliffhanger. That one just felt too cliché for me, and I wonder how it'll affect season seven, as well as how it's affecting season eight.

Movies

On Monday, I enjoyed a fabulously lazy movie day with my kiddos. The features included Up and Ratatouille, two movies I haven't watched in quite some time.

Up does something that I think is amazing, with a skill that I envy: in the space of a few minutes, the opening montage tells a compelling, heartbreaking story with barely any spoken words. We see the young Mr. Fredericksen meeting his wife as a child, then the music begins and we get to see what their life together was like. I find this opening sequence so touching because it perfectly portrays the everyday joys and tragedies of life. When the Fredericksens find out they can't have children, it's heart-wrenching. When they have to constantly delay their trip to Paradise Falls because life gets in the way, it's so moving. And, when Ellie Fredericksen dies, you love the couple and their life together so much that it makes you weep. This is a textbook example of how to do a love story and do it well.

I enjoy Ratatouille for other reasons. While I like Rémy and the story of his struggle for acceptance with his family, and I think using a rat is a good way of symbolically showing what a struggle it can be to do the thing you love when society is set up in such a way that the doors are barred to you, what I really enjoy about that movie is the food. Every time I see it, I want to go to Paris and eat at a fancy restaurant. Since I'm going to Paris this summer, I just might get that chance! If you love food and/or cooking, I don't see how Ratatouille can't tap into that passion you feel for the subject.

However, I can't sum that movie up without pointing out something else I love about it: the subtle feminist message. I love Colette's direct talk about how difficult it is for a woman to break into the world of fine cuisine, and that she addresses the hard work and struggle she's faced to get where she's at. One of the things I really like about Pixar movies is how they tackle some pretty complicated themes in a very straight-forward, non-preachy way.

So there are my pop culture highlights for the week. Any good books or video games you'd like to recommend? I'm particularly interested in good RPGs or strategy games.

Thumbs Up Thursday: Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

 Genre: YA dystopian/post-apocalyptic

What I love about the characters: This is a spin-off novella that takes place after the events in Mafi's Shatter Me.  The main focus of this book is Warner.  When I read Shatter Me, there was something about him I couldn't completely write off.  I thought maybe Mafi was going to present more facets to his character, and she did so in a big way in this novella.  I have a much better grasp of who Warner is and what makes him tick, and this book changed the way I felt about him.  I can't say I think he's a hero, but I definitely have a more sympathetic view toward him now.

What I love about the setting: I got to know a little bit more about the Reestablishment in this book, though it's still not fully developed.  I did like the detail about the world, such as the housing that was set up for the common people.  I hope the next book will go into even more detail about why the world is as it is, but this book was really more about Warner than anything, and I was very happy with that.

What I love about the plot: There's not a lot of "plot" to this book, but I don't mean that in a bad way.  Instead, the novella offers a lot of insight into Warner.  We get some detail about his background, and I gained a better understanding of his relationship with his father, which was a doozy.  I thought this novella was an excellent example of how to do a character study and do it well.

What I'm jealous of: Mafi's writing.  I really love her prose.  I loved it in Shatter Me, and I loved it in this novella.  She just a really lovely way of writing.

Who I'd recommend it to: Anyone who read and enjoyed Shatter Me, since this novella provides a lot more insight into Warner.  If you haven't read Shatter Me, I think you'd be much better off reading it before reading this, because a lot of events that take place in Shatter Me are referenced here, and you might feel a bit lost otherwise.

Thumbs Up Thursdays: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Um, wow!  Between hearing about Susan Ee's success and the buzz surrounding this book on Goodreads, I decided I had to read it.  I can sum it up by saying this: Ee deserves every bit of praise she's getting.

Genre: Young adult postapocalyptic

What I love about the characters: Honestly, I could probably write a ten-page essay in which I fangirl on and on about how much I absolutely adored Penryn.  Have I mentioned that I loved her?  I read a lot of YA fiction, but it's rare that I find a female protagonist that I care for and root for as much as I did with Penryn.  She is everything I hope to make my female protagonists: smart, tough, proactive, and yet she still has a tender, compassionate side.  On top of all that, she has one of the most interesting family dynamics I've yet read about in a work of YA fiction.  This is how a well-done female character should be.

I also really liked Raffe.  Though he is godlike, gorgeous, as well as an awe-inspiring warrior (he is an angel, after all!), he never comes across unlikeable.  When he's being an arrogant jerk, Penryn calls him on it, and I thought that was awesome.  The two have great tension, and their relationship builds slowly and carefully.  You really get the sense that these are two characters taking the time to get to know one another.

What I love about the setting: Ee has created a very real, very scary world.  Seriously, I read the last few chapters of the book late one night and I was honestly afraid to go to bed because I was sure I was going to have nightmares.  It is chilling to read such a dark, dire portrayal of the U.S. in the wake of Armageddon, and Ee really cranks up the horror factor.  Her prose is extremely vivid, and I could perfectly picture every scene she depicted.  I envy her prodigious imagination.

What I love about the plot: It flows so wonderfully.  It's exciting and action-packed, and many chapters left me biting my nails, wondering what would happen to Penryn and Raffe.  It's the kind of book that I was reluctant to put down because I just had to know what would happen next.  Yet, Ee also does a fantastic job of rounding out her characters, so you get the total package.

What I'm jealous of: All of it, really.  It's so well-written, so tense, so scary, and so heartbreaking.  It also made me think.  I don't want to spoil anything, but there is one central question in the novel that I'm *still* thinking about and trying to decide how I would handle.  I cannot wait for the next book in the series so I can find out what happens.

Who I'd recommend it to: Anyone who likes strong female characters, postapocalyptic novels, and novels about angels.

Thumbs Up Thursdays: Wool by Hugh Howey

Today I'm kicking off my first Thumbs Up Thursday, where I will share a quick review of a book I've really enjoyed.  In addition to being an author, I'm a very avid reader, and it's always exciting to me to find that hidden gem of a book that just yanks you right into its world.

To kick off my first Thumbs Up Thursday, I present to you my flash review of Wool, by Hugh Howey.

Genre: Adult speculative fiction/dystopia.  This is a novelette of around 12,000 words.

What I love about the characters: They are so vivid, even though this is a short work of fiction.  Though the story is told from Holston's point of view, I felt like I really got to know Allison through Holston's eyes.  Their love story was moving without being treacly or overdone.  There was deep, binding emotion between the two of them.

What I love about the setting: This is a great example of dystopian done well.  Though Howey doesn't spend a lot of time world-building, I still got a really good sense of what the world was about and why it was structured the way it was.  There is a reason for this dystopia, as becomes abundantly clear through the narrative, which is the way it ought to be.  Howey does a fantastic job of showing rather than telling.

What I love about the plot: Pretty much everything.  I loved that Holston's feelings for his wife drove his actions, that Allison's digging into the history of their society raised questions, that Howey provided a perfectly awesome rationale for why those condemned to cleaning actually go out and clean.

What I'm jealous of: That ending!  I really hope and wish that I might someday create such a shattering, fantastic ending.  Not only is the ending great, I really didn't see it coming.

Who I'd recommend it to: Anyone who, like me, is a fan of dystopian fiction.